Quit Stalling On Land Purchase

Our Towns

Wallingford

October 20, 1995

In 1991, Wallingford received approval for a state Department of Environmental Protection grant of $411,000 toward the purchase of slightly more than 100 acres for open space.

The land in question, the Williams family property on the east side of I-91, is in a rural section of town that still boasts significant farmland. The property borders water company land near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park and had a market value of slightly more than $1 million four years ago. The DEP grants are intended to help towns buy acreage for preservation and recreation.

The problem is that the town has sat on the grant for four years without negotiating with the property owners. The state has been kind enough to provide several extensions of the grant deadline, but is understandably running out of patience with Wallingford officialdom. There are plenty of other towns that would be interested in using the money to preserve land if Wallingford can't make up its mind by the end of the year.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., who had cold feet about the land deal a year ago, is saying now that the town will negotiate with the owners. The fiscally conservative mayor says other projects took priority. Fine, but the time to act is now.

If the mayor has qualms about the approximately $600,000 that Wallingford taxpayers will be paying as their share of the purchase, he should try to get the best price he can in the few months he has left to wheel and deal.

Just as people often put off saving money for the future, it is easy for towns to find reasons not to save land for future generations.

With a grant in hand, it is time for Wallingford to act. It will be money well spent.